Magic Johnson said the Lakers are due to meet with Lonzo Ball in a couple of weeks. (David Alex Films/Vimeo)
Magic Johnson thinks LaVar Ball has something in common with Kris Jenner and, no, that’s not a diss to the outspoken basketball dad.
Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations, addressed reports that the Lakers are interested in Ball’s son, Lonzo, a former guard at UCLA. Johnson said the team will be scheduling an interview with him in a couple of weeks and he isn’t worried about LaVar Ball being a distraction.
“I don’t look at any parent, when it comes to a professional league, that will be a problem,” Johnson said to “Best of ESPNLA.” “We’ve always had parents who love their sons or daughters who play in professional golf or basketball, whatever, who are getting involved and get excited and also who think their child is the best. …
“I have no problem with LaVar.”
He likened LaVar Ball to Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, who launched her family into reality TV stardom with the reality series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” after the leak of her daughter Kim Kardashian’s sex tape.
“The Kardashians, we didn’t say that the mom was bad and she made them a lot of money, right?” Johnson said. “She’s bragged on her daughters. And I think it’s the same here. He’s just saying, ‘Hey, my son is great.’ It’s nothing bad with that. [The Lakers are] not looking at LaVar being a problem if we’re blessed to have an opportunity to draft Lonzo.”
Johnson applauded LaVar Ball for being involved in the lives of his sons, LiAngelo, LaMelo and Lonzo.
“I’m happy that a father goes around and says great things about his son[s],” he said. “It seems like it hasn’t bothered Lonzo, so that’s what we really have to look at. This young man has been a champion in high school and then he’s gone on to have a stellar career at UCLA and his father was talking at that time, but it didn’t bother him.
“So, as long as it doesn’t bother him, it’s not gonna bother the Lakers organization as long as Lonzo performs on the basketball court, right?”
